Gas producing apparatus



July 23, 1935. E. w. WHITE, SR 2,009,155

' GAS PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed June '7, 1954 3mm I Warren 51:,

Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PA E T OFFICE v GAS PRODUCING APPARATUS Edwin Warren White, Sr., Owings Mill, Md. I Application June 7, 1934, Serial No. 729,470

2 Claims. (01. 261-121) My invention relates to improvements in gas producing apparatusand has to do, more particularly, with apparatus of the type in which a combustible gas is produced byforcing air through a liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

Accordingly, the chief object of my invention is to provide a simple and efiicient gasproducing apparatus of this general type, which can be manufactured and sold or installed at a-relatively low cost, and which will be just as safe, practical and efficient as the more expensive apparatus heretofore used.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of this character employing a simple and conventional motor driven air compressor and including, in the pipe line leading from the compressor, a simple combined check valve and oil reservoir unit, whereby the air passing to the fuel tank will be washed by the oil in the reservoir and said oil will form an oil seat for the check valve.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of construction and details of operation, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means set forth in'the following specification. My invention is clearly pointed out and defined in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a detail, vertical sectional view through the combined check valve and oil reservoir unit, showing the check valve unseated due to operation of the air compressor.

In the drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

In general, my invention consists in providing a gas producing apparatus comprising an air compressor, a fuel storage tank, and a pipe line leading from the compressor to a point below the level of fuel in said tank, which is filled with air at or above tank pressure together with an oil reservoir and a check valve inserted in said pipe line, with the valve between the compressor and "reservoir so that, when the compressor operates, 5

the check valve is unseated and air forced therethrough to the tank is washed by passage through .oil in the reservoir and, when the compressor ceases to operate and the valve seats, oil from :the reservoir backs up in the valve so that it is 10 oil seated and reverse flow of air at tank pressure therethrough is prevented.

Referring to thenumbered parts of the drawing, the numeral l0 indicates a simple air compressor of conventional form. This will comprise 1 an electric motor and anair compressor driven. thereby and needs no detailed description here as such units are well known. and may be purchased on the open market at relatively lowcos't.

The pipe l2 leads from the discharge portlof the 2'0 compressor and is connected to the inlet chamber I8 of a check valve I3. This check valve is of standard construction and includes the inlet chamber I8 and outlet chamber l9 connected by a passage l4 surrounded by a flat valve seat 55, 25

upon which the flap valve I 6, hinged at ii, is adapted to seat to close the passage.

The outlet chamber IQ of the check valve is connected by the pipe section 23 to a T-fitting 22,

one arm of which is connected by pipe section 2! 30 to the bottom of the chamber 20 forming an oil reservoir. The third arm of the T-fitting is closed by a removable plug 24. The upper end of the oil reservoir 20 is connected by apipe section 25 to one arm of the T-fitting 26. A second arm of 35 this fitting is connected to the pipe 217 and the third arm is closed by the removable plug 28.

The pipe 27 extends into the fuel storage tank H, to a point below the level of fuel therein,

Whereone or more openings are provided in the 4 .0

bubbler pipe extension to permit the compressed air to escape therefrom through the liquid fuel in said tank. A pressure gauge 31 may be connected into the pipe 27 to register the air pressure therein, which will be the same as that existing 45 in tank Ii. The valve 32 is also connected into pipe 2? to permit of cutting off the tank from the compressor, as when the latter is to be removed for repairs or adjustment. Numeral 33 indicates a pressure-operated electric switch connected 50 into pipe 21, operated by air pressure therein and controlling the circuit of the compressor motor. This switch is of conventional construction and needs no further description here. It should be so connected that the motor circuit is closedwhen 55 the tank pressure falls to a certain point and opened when it is increased above the determined maximum. The tank H is provided with a filler pipe 30 and a fuel gauge pipe 3|. The pipe 29 leads from the tank H to the burners or other appliances which consume the gas produced.

In operation, the tank H is filled with a suitable liquid hydrocarbon fuel, of a well-known character, to the level indicated by the dotted line and a supply of oil, preferably lubricating oil of good quality, is placed in the oil reservoir 20. Oil is introduced into the reservoir through the T-fitting 28, the plug 28 being removed for that purpose. The compressor I!) being idle, the valve [6 is seated and oil from reservoir 28 enters outlet chamber 19 and provides an oil seat for the check valve, so that air pressure from pipe 21, which is the same as that existing in tank ll cannot escape past the check valve. When the compressor I0 is operated, the air under pressure in pipe I2 is forced through the check valve opening.

valve l6, and through the oil in reservoir 20 and the connections between it and outlet chamber I9 of the check valve, thus washing the air and freeing it of dust or dirt entrained therein. The oil may be drained from reservoir 20, when desired, by removing plug 24. The compressed air, having been thus washed, isforced out through the openings in pipe 21 below the fuel level and bubbles through the liquid fuel in tank il, thus producing a combustible gas which is stored for use above the liquid fuel in said tank. When the compressor ceases to operate,'the air pressure in pipe 21, which is the same as the pressure of the gas in tank ll causes the valve I9 to seat and this seating is rendered effective by the oil which backs up from reservoir 20 and forms an oil seat for the valve. Thus loss of tank air pressure from pipes 2! through the check valve is prevented.

This apparatus is very simple and inexpensive and a very simple and cheap motor-compressor unit may be used, but, nevertheless, I have found that the apparatus disclosed is just as efficient and safe as the more expensive equipment heretofore used, and more practical in operation because of its simplicity.

I am aware that the apparatus disclosed herein is subject to considerable variation, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A gas producing apparatus comprising the combination of a motor-driven compressor, a fuel storage tank, a pipe leading from the outlet of said compressor, a check valve having its inlet chamber connected to said pipe, an oil reservoir connected below the level of oil therein with the outlet chamber of said check valve, a pipe leading from said reservoir abovethe level of oil therein to a point below the fuel level in said tank and maintained filled with air at or above tank pressure, and a pressure-operated switch connected to said last-named pipe line for controlling the operation of the motor compressor.

2. A gas producing apparatus comprising the combination of a motor-driven compressor, a fuel storage tank, a pipe leading from the outlet of said compressor, a check valve having its inlet chamber connected to said pipe, an oil reservoir connected below the level of oil therein with the outlet chamber of said valve, a pipe leading from said reservoir above the level of oil therein to a point below the fuel level in said tank and maintained filled with air at or above tank pressure,

and a pressure-operated switch responsive to tank pressure for controlling the operation of the motor compressor.

EDWIN WARREN WHITE, SR. 

